September 19, 2014

Dear Friends,

Here is the 75th issue of our weekly gardening newsletter for Houston, the Gulf Coast and beyond. This a project of The Lazy Gardener, Brenda Beust Smith, John Ferguson and Mark Bowen (both John and Mark are with Nature's Way Resources). We also have a great supporting cast of contributing writers and technical specialists who will chime in and tweak away regularly. We would love to keep receiving your input on this newsletter . . . . comments . . . . suggestions . . . . questions. . . .Email your thoughts to: [email protected]. Thanks so much for your interest.
 
Please  or sign yourself up to receive this newsletter by clicking the "Join Our Mailing List" link just below. We will never sell or share our mailing list to protect the privacy of our subscribers.

Enjoy!


 



At the Cockrell Butterfly Center's Plant Sale on Sat., Oct. 11, they'll have, left to right, Aristolochia-fimbriata flower (White Veined Hardy Dutchman's Pipe - a trailling plant for shade or light sun), Pura Vida Passionvine (sun/part shade) and Buttonbush (sun/part shade). (see calendar for details)
 

 

GET OUT THE LITTLE RED WAGON . . . IT'S PLANT SALE SEASON! 

by BRENDA BEUST SMITH
  
I am so awed by our calendar of  gardening events listed below.  I always knew there were a lot of gardening activities taking place in the Greater Houston area. But even after all these decades of listing events in a wide variety of local gardening calendars, I am so totally surprised and delighted by how many are being submitted for this new newsletter.
 
In fact, there are so many, that I worried a truly unique opportunity happening now might get lost in the shuffle. I refer to the extraordinary number of plant sales being sponsored by area nonprofit, horticulture-oriented groups.
 
Our many fine independent nurseries are owned and/or managed by folks who share your gardening challenges, who keep up-to-date on great new plants for your area and who really want you to succeed . . . so you'll become a regular customer! 
 
Plant sales by area nonprofit organizations bring an extra bonus to gardeners. These folks also hope you'll return for their future sales, but their livelihoods are not dependent on selling plants that you WILL buy. 
 
These groups's main goal is to introduce you to plant more ecology-friendly plants that don't require as much water as traditional landscape plants do, that will attract butterflies, hummingbirds and other beneficial wildlife. They have more leeway in their inventories.  What doesn't sell will eventually go into their own gardens or the many demonstration gardens they support or be given to community projects.
 
For this reason, I'm happy to give them some extra publicity, to pull them to the fore so you'll be sure and notice those you can attend.  We are moving into our best planting time for bulbs, winter vegetables, wildflowers, shrubs, and vines and even trees - although you might want to hold onto those until January.  All these will do better if planted now through January so they can establish strong root systems before the heat and drought of our summers.
 
Get your running shoes on and take your own little red wagon with you! See our calendar below for details on each show. 
 
Sat., Sept. 20: Fall Plant Sale8am. https://hcmga.tamu.edu/public/ 
 
Sat., Sept. 27:  Sugar Land Garden Club Fall Festival and Plant Salewww.SugarLandGardenClub.org
 
 

  At the Brazoria Master Gardener Plant Sale on Sept. 27, they'll have, left to right, Barlaria Coral Creeper (Barlaria repens-sun/part shade); Esperanza Bells of Fire (Tecoma x 'Bells of Fire'-afternnon sun at least) and Dwarf Fairy Duster (Calliandro emaarginata-sun/light shade). 

 
Sat., Sept 27:  Brazoria County Master Gardener's Fall Plant Sale, http://brazoria.agrilife.org
 
Sat., Sept. 27: Texas Rose Rustlers 2014 Fall Cutting Exchange, texasroserustlers.com 
 
Fri.-Sat., Oct. 3-4: Garden Club of Houston Bulb and Plant Mart
, www.gchouston.org/BulbPlantMart.aspx . (Note new site)    
 
 
Among the great plants at the Montgomery County Master Gardeners Oct. 4 sale will be, left to right, Cassia_splendida, Conoclinium_coelestinum, Mexican Honeysuckle and Rangood Creeper

 
Sat., Oct. 4: Montgomery County Master Gardeners Pre-Fall Plant Sale, www.mcmga.com

 
Mercer's sale will include, left to right, this eye-boggling "Strawberry Limeade" camellia (yes, a camellia!), Buzz Blue-Violet' buddleia and 'Azuri Satin' althaea.

Sat., Oct. 4
: Mercer Botanic Gardens Autumn Plant Sale and Market/Houston Orchid Society workshops & displays. www.cp4.hctx.net/mercer or houstonorchidsociety.org 
 
Sat, Oct. 4: Fabulous Fall Festival Plant Sale, Nacogdoches. Free. www.sfagardens.sfasu.edu 
 
Sat.-Sun., Oct. 4-5: Spring Branch African Violet Club Annual Fall Sale, http://www.avsa.org/node/21495
 
Sat., Oct. 11: Cockrell Butterfly Center Fall Plant Sale, www.hmns.org 
 
Sat., Oct. 11: Galveston County Master Gardener Plant Sale,
 
Sat.-Sun., Oct. 25-26:  Southwest Bromeliad Guild Show and Sale (Texas & Louisiana), http://bromeliadsocietyhouston.org/36th-annual-southwest-bromeliad-guild-show
 
Sat. Nov. 1: 42nd annual Herb Society of America/South Texas Unit's Herb Fair,  www.herbsociety-stu.org.  (note new site.)
 
Thurs., Nov. 20:  Native Seed & Plant Swap and Social
,www.npsot.org/houston

Check calendar below for more details on each event. 
 
 

 
JANE LONG FESTIVAL'S GREEN ROOF!
 
We were down at Fort Travis, on Bolivar Peninsula, scoping out the site of the big upcoming Jane Long Festival (Oct. 11) when a friend quipped: 
 
"Why didn't you use a picture of Fort Travis with your  Green Roof column?" 
 
Sure enough, the massive slope atop the historic bunker (above) would qualify as a green roof. . . I guess. It certainly is a low maintenance one!
 
Right now, however, this camouflage technique employed during WWI and WWII) is also a wonderful display of wildflowers - sunflowers and gaillardia amid the myriads of native plants that, no doubt, draw millions of migrating birds to the Audubon Society wildlife sanctuaries spotted around the peninsula.

I suspect, of course, many visitors to the Oct. 11 Jane Long Festival honoring the Mother of Texas will be far more interested the always-popular guided tours of this historic site, used as a military base as far back as the early Spanish explorers, through the Civil War and even to house German prisoners during WWII. Doubt they noticed the wildflowers much either!

If you want to know more about Bolivar wildflowers, the Jane Long Society will have on sale copies of my Wildflowers of Texas Placemat, below.  All proceeds benefit the Jane Long Society which active in helping to restore the peninsula following Hurricane Ike.



 
For more details on the Jane Long Festival, log onto www.janelongfestival.org. Or email me, [email protected], for a festival info kit.
 

 


 * * * 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!! Sat., Oct. 11: 5TH Annual JANE LONG FESTIVAL, Fort Travis Seashore Park, Bolivar Peninsula, Tx. Details: www.janelongfestival.org. For a free info kit, email [email protected] 

  

 * * * 

 Brenda's group lectures include: "How to Reduce the Size of Your Front Lawn to Save Water Without Infuriating Your Neighbors," "Landscaping for Security," "10 Commandments of Lazy Gardening," and "What's Blooming in the Lazy Gardener's Garden." Details: [email protected]  

 

  
  

 

 

.

 

JOHN'S CORNER

 

 

Organic Fertilizers and Nutrients - 12

 

Bat Guano

 

Guano comes from an Inca word for bat or sea bird manure via Spanish.  Historically bat guano has been one of the most important natural fertilizers ever used. It has been used by cultures all over the world for hundreds of years. Its value is so great that it triggered several wars and the Incas killed anyone that disturbed bat colonies or bird nesting beds. Pound for pound other manures or even artificial fertilizer do not compare to bat guano as a source of balanced plant nutrients. Bat guano contains all the major and minor nutrients and many trace elements. We commonly see nutrient rates like 10-3-1 depending on the source.


 

Bat guano starts out as bat manure, where the bat droppings fall to the floor of a cave.  Once on the cave floor the manure is eaten by guano beetles and microbes and is no longer bat poop.  This processing (decomposing) renders the bat guano odor free, free of pathogens and other toxins and turns it into the wonderful fertilizer full of beneficial microbes we call bat guano.


 

Many bats are migratory in nature. When the bats have left the cave for the season and the beetles have finished eating it, it is a dry powder that can be vacuumed up, bagged and sold. When harvested in this manner it is a sustainable resource.  However, some bats are not migratory and harvesting the guano may disrupt the bat colony leading to its demise.  Also the guano will contain processed manure and fresh droppings that may contain human pathogens.


 

There is a lot of anecdotal evidence that when a tea is made from bat guano it has been found that the tea will act as a natural fungicide when sprayed on a plants leaves. It has also been found that when tea or guano is applied to the soil it naturally suppresses root knot nematodes. Numerous research studies have shown these same effects due to microbes hence I suspect this benefit is from the microbial components in the guano.


 

Typical usage would be 2 teaspoons per 6 inch pot or 2-3 quarts per 100 square feet of garden. This varies between supplier hence read their recommendations.

 

SUMMARY: 

 

Bat guano is a great organic fertilizer if collected and processed in a sustainable manner.

 

 

PROS:

- good source of major nutrients

- contains minor and trace elements

- supplies both fast and slow release nutrients

- nutrients are resistant to leaching

- feeds soil microbes

- contains no fillers

- improves soil structure (sand or clay)

- increases soil organic matter

- naturally low in salts

- adds organic matter to the soil

- used in compost piles

- contains beneficial enzymes

- odor free

- improves plant growth

 

 

CONS:

- expensive due to high demand

- limited availability

- may lead to destruction of bat colonies by unethical suppliers

- a few sources may have additional processing to increase phosphorus (P) concentration that renders it no longer organic.

 

 

 

                   

 

 

 


 

  
   WEEKLY GARDENING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS CALENDAR

 Gardening events only. Events listed are in Houston unless otherwise noted. 

Submit events written in the format used below, specifically earmarked for publication in the

 'Lazy Gardener & Friends Newsletter." Email to lazy [email protected]

   


Sat., Sept. 20: Container Gardening, 6:30 p.m., Maude Smith Marks Library, 1815 Westgreen Blvd., Katy. Free. Harris County Master Gardener event. Details: https://hcmga.tamu.edu/public/ 


Sat., Sept. 20: Fall Plant Sale, 8am, Harris County Extension Office, 3033 Bear Creek Dr. Details: https://hcmga.tamu.edu/public/


Sat, Sept 20: Urban Harvest's Fall Vegetable Gardening: What to Plant Now. 9-11:30am.  $36. UH Central Campus, 4800 Calhoun, Bldg & Room TBA, Houston 77004. Details: 713-880-5540 or www.urbanharvest.org 


Wed., Sept. 20: Native Plants for Your Landscape by Montgomery County Master Gardeners, 9am-3:30pm, Texas AgriLife Extension office  Association, 9020 FM 1484 Rd, Conroe. $15. Preregister at www.mcmga.com or 936-539-7824.


Sat., Sept. 20: Colorful Fall Colors, 10:15am, at both Cornelius Nursery locations, 1200 N. Dairy Ashford and 2233 S. Voss. http://www.corneliusnurseries/events

  

Sat., Sept. 20: Bulbs and Buddies by Heidi Sheesley and Chris Weisinger, 10am-3pm, Arbor Gate Nursery, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball. Details: 281-351-8851, arborgate.com

 

Sat., Sept. 20: Texas Tuff Landscape Plants by Sandra DeVall, 9-11am, free, and Grafting Workshop 1-3pm, AgriLife Extension Office, Carbide Park, 4102 Main St./FM 519, La Marque. Grafting Workshop registration required. Galveston County Master Gardener events. Details, 281-534-3413, [email protected] 


 
Sun., Sept. 21: Pollinators - Bee Forum by Angela Chandler and Dean Cook, 11am, Arbor Gate Nursery, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball. Free. Details281-351-8851, arborgate.com 

   

Mon., Sept. 22: Fort Bend County Master Gardener Registration Deadline. Course runs Tuesdays/thursdays, Oct. 9-Nov. 6, AgriLife Extension Service Office, 1402 Band Rd. $200/$353 couple + 50 hours volunteer service.  Details:  http://fbmg.com281-633-7033 or the AgriLife office 

  

Tues., Sept. 23: Outstanding Plants - Texas Gulf Coast Gardener - Tier-2, 9-week course begins, Tuesdays, 9am-3pm, Mercer Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Details/reservations: 281-443-8731. (Tier 1 starts Sept. 25. Need not attend #I to attend #2)


Tues., Sept. 23: Irises for the Gulf Coast Garden by Monica Martens, 6:30-8pm, AgriLife Extension Office, Carbide Park, 4102 Main St./FM 519, La Marque. Free. Galveston County Master Gardener events. Details, 281-534-3413, [email protected]  

  

Thurs., Sept.25: Mercer Botanic Gardens 40th Anniversary Distinguished Lecture: Dr. Peter Raven on "Plant Conservation in a Rapidly Changing World," 6:30pm, Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Drive. Ticket details: 713-639-4629 or www.hmns.org/lectures.

 

Thurs., Sept. 25: Principles of Gardening - Texas Gulf Coast Gardener Tier-1, 9-week course begins, Thursdays, 9am-3pm, Mercer Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Details/reservations: 281-443-8731. (Tier 2 starts Sept. 23)

 

Thurs., Sept.25: Mercer Botanic Gardens 40th Anniversary Distinguished Lecture: Dr. Peter Raven on "Plant Conservation in a Rapidly Changing World," 6:30pm, Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Drive. Ticket details: 713-639-4629 or www.hmns.org/lectures

  

Thurs., Sept. 25: Growing Bountiful Berries for Best Personal Health by Cynthia Graham, 10am, Arbor Gate Nursery, 15635 FM2920, Tomball. Free. Details: 281-351-8851, arborgate.com 


Thurs., Sept. 25: Texas Tough Perennials by Linda Gay, 9am-12pm, V.F.W. Post 4719, 1303 Semands St., Conroe. $25.00 cash or check. [email protected]


Sat., Sept. 27: Texas Rose Rustlers 2014 Fall Cutting Exchange, 10am, Brookwood Community, Brookshire. To request cuttings of specific antique roses, email: [email protected]. Details: texasroserustlers.com

  

Sat., Sept. 27:  Sugar Land Garden Club Fall Festival and Plant Sale, 8:30am-1pm, Knights of Columbus Hall, 702 Burney Road, Sugar Land (new location).  Details: www.SugarLandGardenClub.org; Diana Miller, 713-724-3113,  [email protected] 


Sat., Sept. 27: Gorgeous Autumn Color in Containers, 10:15am, at both Cornelius Nursery locations, 1200 N. Dairy Ashford and 2233 S. Voss. http://www.corneliusnurseries/events

  

Sat., Sept. 27: Texas Tough Citrus by George Shackleford, 10am, Arbor Gate Nursery, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball. Free. 281-351-8851, arborgate.com


 
Sat., Sept 27:  Brazoria County Master Gardener's Fall Plant Sale, 8 am-noon, Brazoria Environmental Education Station, Hospital Dr.& CR 171, Angleton. Details: 979-864-1558 x 110 or http://brazoria.agrilife.org/


Sat, Sept 28: Urban Harvest's Sustainable Living Through Permaculture, Class 1. 2-6pm. $40. Private Residence @ 610 West Loop/Stella Link.  Detais:  713-880-5540 or 


Wed., Oct. 1: What to Plant Through October by Randy Lemmon, 9:30am, University Baptist Church, 16106 Middlebrook Dr. Free. Gardeners By The Bay event. Details: Marjorie, 281-474-5051. 

 

Thurs., Oct. 2: Garden Club of Houston Bulb and Plant Mart Early Bird Shopping and Party
,
4:30-7:30, St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 2450 River Oaks Blvd. $20. Details: 
(Note new site)

  

Fri., Oct. 3: Garden Club of Houston Bulb and Plant Mart, 9am-5pm; St. John the Divine Episcopal Church 2450 River Oaks Blvd. Free. Details: Details: www.gchouston.org/BulbPlantMart.aspx(Note new site)

  

Sat., Oct. 4: Garden Club of Houston Bulb and Plant Mart, 9am- 2pm, St. John the Divine Episcopal Church 2450 River Oaks Blvd. Free. www.gchouston.org/BulbPlantMart.aspx(Note new site)


Sat., Oct. 4: Montgomery County Master Gardeners Pre-Fall Plant Sale Presentation followed by Sale, 8am-9am, Agrilife Extension Office, 9020 Airport Road, Conroe. Free. Details: http://www.mcmga.com


Sat., Oct. 4: Mercer Botanic Gardens Autumn Plant Sale and Market/Houston Orchid Society workshops & displays, 8am-3pm, 22036 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Free. Details: 281-443-8731

 

Sat, Oct. 4: Fabulous Fall Festival Plant Sale, 9am-2pm, Stephen F. Austin State University Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet, Nacogdoches. Free. Details: (936) 468-4404, www.sfagardens.sfasu.edu


Sat., Oct. 4: Preparing Gardens for Fall Plantings by Fort Bend Master Gardeners, 9-11am, Demonstration Gardens, Agriculture Center, 1402 Band Road, Rosenberg. Details: 281-341-7068, http://www.fbmg.com


Sat.-Sun., Oct. 4-5: Spring Branch African Violet Club Annual Fall Sale, 10am-4pm Sat., 10am-3pm Sun, Judson Robinson Jr. Community Center, 2020 Hermann Dr. Free. Details: Karla Ross, 281-748-8417, [email protected]


 
Sun, Oct 5: Urban Harvest's Sustainable Living Through Permaculture, Class 2. 12:30-5:30pm. $50. UH Central Campus, 4800 Calhoun, Charles McElhinney Hall #106, Details: 713-880-5540  or www.urbanharvest.org


Tues., Oct. 7: Native Bees by Dr. Jack Neff, 7pm, Museum of Natural Science Lower Level Conference Room, 5555 Hermann Park Dr. Free. Butterfly Enthusiasts of Southeast Texas (BEST) event.


Wed., Oct. 8:  Winter Vegetable Gardens by Darnell Schreiber, Lunch Bunch, Mercer Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Free. Details 281-443-8731. 


 
Thur., Oct. 9: "Soil Biology and Gardening", "Mulches and Compost","Backyard and Small Scale Composting" by John FergusonMercer Arboretum, 9am - 3 pm, Texas Gulf Coast Gardeners Class. Details: http://www.hcp4.net  


 
Thurs., Oct. 9: Pesticides: Innocent or Guilty by Dr. Donald Myers, 7:30pm, St. Andrews Episcopal Church parish hall, 1819 Heights Blvd. Free. Houston Rose Society event. Details: www.houstonrose.org


Fri.-Sat., Oct. 10-11: The Southern Garden Symposium, St. Francisville, LA. http://www.southerngardensymposium.org      


Sat., Oct. 11: A Day of Bonsai Fall Show, Mercer Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine-Westfield. Details: 281-443-8731

 

Sat., Oct. 11: Cockrell Butterfly Center Fall Plant Sale, 9am-noon, Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Drive. Free. Details: 713-639-4751; www.hmns.org


Sat, Oct 11: Urban Harvest's Designing a Wildscape for Pollinators. 9-11:30am. $50. UH Central Campus, 4800 Calhoun, Charles McElhinney Hall #106. Details: 713-880-5540 or www.urbanharvest.org


Sat., Oct. 11: Galveston County Master Gardener Plant Sale,

Preview: 8-8:50pm, Sale: 9am-1pm, Wayne Johnson Community Center, Carbide Park, 4102 Main St./FM519, Lamarque.


Sun, Oct 12: Urban Harvest's Designing Bountiful Gardens Through Permaculture (series of 6 classes). First class: 12:30-5pm. $404. UH Central Campus, 4800 Calhoun, Charles McElhinney Hall #106. Details: 713-880-5540 or www.urbanharvest.org


 
Tues., Oct. 14: Trees,Choice & Maintenance, 6:30pm, Clear Lake Park Meeting Room, 5001 Nasa Parkway, Seabrook. A Harris County Master Gardeners Precinct 2 event. Free. Details: https://hcmga.tamu.edu 


 
Wed., Oct. 15: Fall Fertilization for the Landscape ,Ornamentals and Grasses  by Skip Richter.  10am,Clear Lake Park Meeting Room, 5001 Nasa Parkway, Seabrook. Harris County Master Gardeners Precinct 2 event. Free. Details:https://hcmga.tamu.edu


Thurs., Oct. 16:  Plant Propagation by Randy Johnson, Horticultural Consultant- Randy Johnson Organics: 7:30-9 pm, Houston Arboretum, 4501 Woodway. Free. Native Plant Society of Texas/Houston Chapter event. Details: www.npsot.org/houston    

  

Sat., Oct. 18, Conservation Conversation - Leaf Mulch Madness, 10:00 am at Cypresswood Water Conservation Garden, 4107 Evening Trail Drive, Spring, TX 77388, Free, Details and reservations

  

Sat, Oct 18: Urban Harvest's Fruit Tree Basics. 9-11:30am. $50. UH Central Campus, 4800 Calhoun, Charles McElhinney Hall #106. Details: 713-880-5540 or www.urbanharvest.org


Mon., Oct. 20, Open Garden Day with Harris County Master Gardeners at Precinct 2. 8:30-11am, Genoa Friendship Garden,1202 Genoa Red Bluff Rd. 9:30am: Educational Programs and Master Gardeners Q&A.Details:

https://hcmga.tamu.edu


 

Sat, Oct 25: Urban Harvest's Self-Watering Container Gardening. 9:-11:30am.$50. UH Central Campus, 4800 Calhoun, Charles McElhinney Hall #106. Details: 713-880-5540  or  www.urbanharvest.org


 

Sat.-Sun., Oct. 25-26:  Southwest Bromeliad Guild Show and Sale (Texas & Louisian

, DoubleTree Hotel Houston Airport, 15747 JFK Blvd. Sale: 9am-5pm Sat.;10am-3pm Sun. Show: 2pm-5pm Sat.; 10am-3pm Sun. Free. Details: Gene Powers, 281-633-9036.


Fri., Oct. 31: 3rd Annual Sustainable Landscapes Conference, 8am-3pm, Big Stone Lodge, Dennis Johnson Park, 709 Riley Fuzzell Road, Spring. Details/reservations: 281-443-8731


Fri.-Sat., Oct. 31-Nov. 1: 26th Annual Fall Festival of Roses, Antique Rose Emporium, Independence. Details: 

www.antiqueroseemporium.com


Sat. Nov. 1: 42nd annual Herb Society of America/South Texas Unit's Herb Fair, 9am-3pm, Multi-Service Center, 1475 West Gray. Free. Details: www.herbsociety-stu.org.  (note new site.)

  

Thurs., Nov. 6: Mercer Botanic Gardens 40th Anniversary Distinguished Lecture: Dr. Peter Wyse Jackson on "Growing an Ark: The Expanding Role of Botanic Gardens in Plant Conservation." 6:30 pm, Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Drive Houston, Ticket details 713-639-4629 or www.hmns.org/lectures.


Wed., Nov.12: Herb Gardening for Home Use by Marilyn O'Connor, noon-2pm, Lunch Bunch, Mercer Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Details/reservations: 281-443-8731


Tues., Nov. 18: Ten Commandments of Lazy Gardening by Brenda Beust Smith, 10am, Knights of Columbus Hall, 702 Burney Road, Sugar Land. Sugar Land Garden Club event. Details: sugarlandgardenclub.org


Thurs., Nov. 20:  Native Seed & Plant Swap and Social,7:30-9 pm, Houston Arboretum, 4501 Woodway. Free. Native Plant Society of Texas/Houston Chapter event. Details: www.npsot.org/houston

 

Mon., April 21: What's Blooming in the Lazy Gardener's Garden by Brenda Beust Smith, 10am, Walden on Lake Houston Club House.  Lake Houston Ladies Club event. Non-member reservations required:Carol Dandeneau. #832-671-4475


WANT YOUR EVENT IN THE LG&F CALENDAR?    YOU HAVE TO SEND IT TO US!

EVENTS WILL NOT BE PICKED UP FROM OTHER NEWSLETTERS OR GENERAL MEDIA RELEASES.
 
To ensure rapid publication, submit events in the exact STRAIGHT LINE  format used above so they can be copied and pasted right in. Events NOT submitted in our format will take longer to get published as someone has to reformat and retype them. Email to: [email protected] 
 

  

Need speakers for your group?  Or tips on getting more publicity for events? Brenda's free booklets that might help:  "Lazy Gardener's Speakers List" of area horticultural/environmental experts, and "Lazy Gardener's Publicity Booklet" (based on her 40+ years of her Houston Chronicle "Lazy Gardener" coverage of area events)  Email specific requests to: [email protected].
Please help us grow by informing all your membership of this weekly newsletter! 







                                             


                                                ABOUT US



 
BRENDA BEUST SMITH
 
WE KNOW HER BEST AS THE LAZY GARDENER . . . 

. . . but Brenda Beust Smith is also:

   * a national award-winning writer & editor
   * a nationally-published writer & photographer 
   * a national horticultural speaker
   * a former Houston Chronicle reporter
   
When the Chronicle discontinued Brenda's 45-year-old Lazy Gardener" print column a couple of years ago, it ranked as the longest-running, continuously-published local newspaper column in the Greater Houston area.

Brenda's gradual sideways step from Chronicle reporter into gardening writing led first to an 18-year series of when-to-do-what Lazy Gardener Calendars, then to her Lazy Gardener's Guide book and now to her Lazy Gardener's Guide on CD (which retails for $20. However, $5 of every sale is returned to the sponsoring group at her speaking engagements).

A Harris County Master Gardener, Brenda has served on the boards of many Greater Houston area horticulture organizations and has hosted local radio and TV shows, most notably a 10+-year Lazy Gardener run on HoustonPBS (Ch. 8) and her call-in "EcoGardening" show on KPFT-FM. 

Brenda recently ended her decades-long stint as Production Manager of the Garden Club of America's BULLETIN magazine. Although still an active horticulture lecturer and broad-based freelance writer,  Brenda's main focus now is  THE LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER with John Ferguson and Mark Bowen of Nature's Way Resources.

A native of New Orleans and graduate of St. Agnes Academy and the University of Houston, Brenda lives in Aldine and is married to the now retired Aldine High School Coach Bill Smith. They have one son, Blake.

Regarding this newsletter, Brenda is the lead writer, originator of it and the daily inspiration for it. We so appreciate the way she has made gardening such a fun way to celebrate life together for such a long time.
 
 
JOHN FERGUSON
 
John is a native Houstonian and has over 27 years of business experience. He owns Nature's Way Resources, a composting company that specializes in high quality compost, mulch, and soil mixes. He holds a MS degree in Physics and Geology and is a licensed Soil Scientist in Texas. 
 
John has won many awards in horticulture and environmental issues. He represents the composting industry on the Houston-Galveston Area Council for solid waste. His personal garden has been featured in several horticultural books and "Better Homes and Gardens" magazine. His business has been recognized in the Wall Street Journal for the quality and value of their products. He is a member of the Physics Honor Society and many other professional societies.  John is is the co-author of the book Organic Management for the Professional. 
 
For this newsletter, John contributes articles regularly and is responsible for publishing it.


MARK BOWEN
 
Mark is a native Houstonian, a horticulturist and organic specialist with a background in garden design, land restoration and organic project management. He is currently the general manager of Nature's Way Resources. Mark is also the co-author of the book Habitat Gardening for Houston and Southeast Texas, the author of the book Naturalistic Landscaping for the Gulf Coast, co-author of the Bayou Planting Guide and contributing landscape designer for the book Landscaping Homes: Texas. 
 
With respect to this newsletter, Mark serves as a co-editor and occasional article contributor.


PABLO HERNANDEZ
 
Pablo Hernandez is the special projects coordinator for Nature's Way Resources. His realm of responsibilities include: serving as a webmaster, IT support, technical problem solving/troubleshooting, metrics management, quality control, and he is a certified compost facility operator.
 
Pablo helps this newsletter happen from a technical support standpoint. 
 
 
 
 
 
COUPON: 20% Off Our Native Mix Soil At Nature's Way Resources www.natureswayresources.com
. (Offer good for retaill purchases of bulk material only at Nature's Way Resources (101 Sherbrook Circle, Conroe TX).
I
 
Offer Expires: 10/12/14